MLB SUSPENDS BECKETT
NEW YORK — Boston pitcher Josh Beckett has been suspended for six games and fined by Major League Baseball, which determined he intentionally threw a pitch near the head of the Los Angeles Angels’ Bobby Abreu last week.
Beckett also was cited for “aggressive actions” after the pitch that led to the benches clearing Sunday, according to Bob Watson, vice president for discipline in the commissioner’s office. Beckett appealed, delaying any penalties until after a hearing.
Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher was suspended for one game and fined, and he served the penalty Tuesday night at Seattle. In addition, Watson fined Angels manager Mike Scioscia and players Torii Hunter and Justin Speier.
Hatcher was unhappy he was suspended for what he said was merely yelling at the umpires.
WAGNER FINALLY THROWS OFF MOUND
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Injured New York Mets closer Billy Wagner threw off a mound Tuesday for what was believed to be the first time since elbow ligament replacement surgery last Sept. 10.
Wagner threw 10 pitches from flat ground, then took the mound in a 23-pitch bullpen session to minor league catcher Juan Centeno. The left-hander threw only fastballs and changeups and his placement was “OK,” Centeno said.
The bullpen session was closed off to media and Wagner did not speak with reporters.
Wagner is in the last year of a four-year $43 million contract and will make $10 million this season. He could return to the majors by September.
ADENHART FUNERAL SET FOR FRIDAY
WILLIAMSPORT, Md. — A funeral home says a memorial service for Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart will be held Friday at Williamsport High School, where Adenhart played as a teen.
The 22-year-old rookie and two friends were killed Thursday when a driver whom police say was drunk ran a red light and hit their car in Fullerton, Calif. Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of San Gabriel, Calif., has been charged with three counts of murder in the deaths.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE KILLED HARRY KALAS
WASHINGTON — Autopsy results show that longtime Phillies’ TV and radio broadcaster Harry Kalas died from heart disease. Known for his signature “Outta here!” home run calls, Kalas died Monday after collapsing in the broadcast booth before the Phillies’ 9-8 victory over the Washington Nationals. He was 73. A spokeswoman at the Washington D.C. chief medical examiner’s office said Kalas had high blood pressure and suffered from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The disease, in which plaque buildup restricts blood flow in arteries, is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
BLUE JAYS’ LITSCH HEADS TO DL
MINNEAPOLIS — Toronto placed right-hander Jesse Litsch on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained forearm. Litsch, 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA this season, left Monday’s game against Minnesota in the middle of an at-bat in the fourth inning. He complained of stiffness in his right forearm.
PODSEDNIK REJOINS WHITE SOX
DETROIT — Scott Podsednik rejoined the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, agreeing to a minor league contract one day after center fielder Dewayne Wise separated a shoulder. Podsednik played for Chicago from 2005-2007 and hit .253 for the Colorado Rockies last year. He became a free agent after the season, agreed to a minor league contract with the Rockies, then was released April 1.
BREWERS ADJUST SUPPAN’S START
MILWAUKEE — Struggling Brewers right-hander Jeff Suppan will have his next start pushed back a day to give him extra time to try and correct the problems he had in his first two outings this season. He was scheduled to start Saturday’s game against the Mets in New York. Suppan hasn’t made it into the fifth inning in either of his two starts this season, giving up 11 earned runs in 72/3 innings.
MADOFF’S METS TICKETS CAN BE SOLD
NEW YORK — A federal bankruptcy court says it will allow the sale of New York Mets season tickets owned by Bernard Madoff’s company. Some April seats already have been sold for individual games. Under the court’s ruling Tuesday, the rest may be offered online as a package. The starting bid will be about $30,000, which is roughly half their value. Madoff pleaded guilty to charges that his investment advisory service actually was an illegal Ponzi scheme. He is jailed, awaiting a June sentencing for charges that carry a sentence of up to 150 years in prison.
Associated Press
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